, 1887-04-29
KING OF sAwOusr swlNoLERs,


~ 80 AaAS ~ ~
of Houston street and the Bowery the
other night. He wore an immaculate
white shirt front, from which spanked
a six karat brilliant of the purest water.
y heavy gold watch chain hung from his
waistcoat, on which was suspended a
large gold horseshoe with seven diamonds,
representing nail heads. A large ring
encircled the little finger Of his left hand.
with an eight karat stone imbedded in il,
which shot out little prismatic sparks
with a snap at every move of his hand.
This little man was lone other than
Barney Mcguire, the king of sawdust
swindlers. He appeared to be more COM
municative than usual, and did not hest
tate to unbosom himself to a friend:
Ten years ago." he said, 81 was
working at my trade as a ~journeyman
bricklayer, earning q salary of SO d day.
l don't Just nowNrecall what first led me
into the doodle business, but 1 started as
you know. Other people know it, too,
and much to their sorrow.
The little confidence man gave u quiet
chuckle n continued: "And 1 have
been SO successful at the sawdust game
that 800, 900 in cold cash would not
touch me to-day. The game has crown
30 threadbare, and has been exposed so
often, however, that am kept continu-
ally studying up some new scheme to
rope in the guys. 1t isn't anything like
it used to be, l can tell you. Why, lean
recollect five years ago, when l thought
nothing of raking in So, 900 a week, and
ON several occasions l took in $15, 900 in
one week. Those were good times.
Nowadays if L make $500 or 81, 900 |
think I'm playing in good luck. My ex-
penses are frightfully heavy, too. I've
always got fifteen or twenty s~teerers that
must be paid SIS or $50 a man, accord
ing to the Doodle that he drops. Then
there's my turner, who has charge of the
layout. He must be paid well, for a
good turner is not picked up every day,
and then, besides, / have agents all over
the country looking up good subjects to
work on.
when a man is found whom it is
suspected will take the bait, one of my
circulars is sent him. There's nothing in
it that could criminate me even if it got
into wrong hands. I don't tell him that
I'm selling counterfeit money, but simply
allude to it as manufactured green stuff
in the denominations Of is, Is, IS, los
and 20s. He generally knows what it
means. If he writes back for a sample,
and l think he means business, 1 cut, for
instance, a brand new, good S. bill in
two and send one-half of it t o him. This
generally brings him. 1t has been pre-
viously understood between US that upon
his arrival in this city he is to telegraph
me at what hotel he is stopping and under
name. Then one of my s~teerers
calls at the hotel and steers him to the
layout, which is situated either up stairs
or down in a basement with a dark pas
sage way. You will understand the
reason for this presently.
When he gets into the layout it's a very
rare thing that he leaves it with more
than just money enough money to take
him Of of town. When he enters the
layout which has been fixed for his re-
ception new green crisp greenbacks greet
his eyes on all sides. The shelves are ap-
parently full Of them, and he imagines
that barrels are filed with the notes. The
packages on the shelves, however, simply
nave a bank note On the top and bottom.
The rest IS paper cut the right size. The
barrels have false tops. The greenbacks
have just been brought from the sub
treasury on Wall street in exchange for
old bills. he first advances to the coun-
ter, takes up a bill, and in nine cases out
of ten takes one from his pocket and COM
pares the two. He couldn't be other
than satisfied. Then he signifies how
much he wants. He is told that he can
have So, 900 for $500. The money is
counted out by the turner, and either
done up in a package or placed in a
valise. If the guy has on a good stone
or a watch and chain, some fabulous sum
is offered for it and placed in with the
other money.
"When the package has been securely
sealed something must be done to distract
his attention from it. 1t requires only a
second. AS a rule, one of my men from
behind him makes some startling re-
mark, and he turns his head, The sec
ond his head goes around a package is
substituted in place of the one the money
is in. He is allowed to carry his w
package in this case. But he is told that,
in order to insure us against any treachery
on his part, he must take the package to
the express Office and send it to his home.
he must then allow one of my men to
accompany him to the train, and see the
train start off with him in it. Then we
are safe.
when he arrives home he calls for his
package and very likely locks himself in
his room and stuffs the keyhole full of
paper before he opens it. When he does
open it he finds a package of sawdust or
paper, with generally az accompanying
note which informs him that the package
has been substituted on the road.
1--WE had the same man come back
three times for more thinking that it was
stolen on the road. If he does find out
that we have duped him he can't squeal,
for he is as deep in the mire as we are.
If a guys attention in the substitut-
ing act cannot be withdrawn from the
package, one of my men takes it, and in
comrany with the flat starts for the ex-
press office. Going through the dark PAS
sage way or down stairs they meet a man.
In passing each other the packages are ex-
changed. It's regular sleight of hand
work. But say, I'm talking too long"
The king of sawdust swindlers looked
at L.; handsome gold watch and walked
nm tho Rowarv -Nau vorl Cup